Improvement in gate-latches



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CYRUS B. AUSTIN AND MILTON S. AUSTIN, OF CUBA, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-L'ATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,889, dated July 10, 1877; application filed June 11, 1877. v

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CYRUS B. AUSTIN and MILTON S. AUSTIN, of Cuba, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Latch, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved latch. Fig. 2 is a plan view in section on line :10 w in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our invention consists of an arc-shaped bolt attached to a pivoted arm, and provided with ratchet-teeth, and operated by means of a lever carrying a pawl, which is capable of engaging either of the ratchet-teeth of the bolt, as occasion may require; the object be ing to provide a simple latch for gates and doors that will automatically adjust itself to the distance between the gate and post or between the door and jamb.

In the drawing, A is a latch, consisting of an arc-shaped piece, a, and an arm, b and B is a plate, to which the arm b is jointed, and through which the end of the arc-shaped piece a projects. The inner edge of the piece a is provided with ratchet-teeth c, which are engaged by a pawl, d, that is pivoted in a bent lever, C, that moves on the same pivot as the arm I). The lever C is slotted, and extends downward on each side of the latch A, beyond'which it projects sufficiently to form a handle for operating the latch. The pawl d is provided with a toe, c, which touches the plate B and throws the pawl out of the teeth a as the lever C is carried forward toward the plate B.

The latch above described is used in con nection with an ordinary latch socket having beveled sides. On shutting the gate the latch follows the inclined side of the sock et,-and drops into it by its own gravity. It will engage a socket equally well whether near it or removed from it any distance with in the range of the latch. The pawl d is no impediment to the free movement of the latch, as it is kept out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth c by the toe e, which holds up the end of the pawl so long as the weight of the le-- ver 0 rests upon the pawl. When the lever C is raised the pawl engages one of the ratchet-teeth 0, and carries the latch A with it.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentn The latch A, consisting of the arc-shaped part a, having ratchet-teeth 0, and the arm b, the lever C, pawl d having the toe e, and the plate B, in combination, substantially as shown and described.

CYRUS B. AUSTIN. MILTON S. AUSTIN. Witnesses:'

Monms MORROW, G. P. AUSTIN. 

